local elections

It is exactly 40 years since I was first elected to the City Council. As a young(ish) enthusiastic Labour member I had a lot to learn. Coincidentally: “Forty years it had taken him to learn just what kind of smile was hidden beneath that dark moustache. But it was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.” (Closing lines of Orwell’s ‘1984’) Did Orwell’s moustache adorn the face of Stalin ? Mine certainly belonged to Peter Mandelson.

I posted my last campaign leaflet last Saturday. 5,000 plus dwellings!. I’ve lived in this Ward for 30 years but still have to admit to visiting some of those roads, streets ..tracks! for the first time. This is my first venture into local politics so thought it appropriate that I at least made the effort to find every ‘door’.

My name is Harold Gregory and I am your local choice for Stoke & Trent Vale. I live in Riverside Road, Trent Vale, and am married with 3 children, one attending St Joseph’s and one at St Teresa’s. I spent 20 years in the Army, serving in the first Gulf War and also in Northern Ireland, as well as many other postings around the world. I now work for Network Rail at Derby, having previously worked at the signal box in Stone until it was closed down.

Today we spoke to Max Caller from the Local Government Boundaries Commission. I asked him to explain a little bit about the Boundaries Commission and the job they do and how that will affect Stoke on Trent's Council Ward boundaries. To make further suggestions to the boundary commission you can visit their website: Thanks To Nikki Davis for her work on the question content.

Veteran Labour Party member and activist Mick Williams has resigned from the party in protest at the candidate selection process used for both the parliamentary and local elections. His resignation ends a 46 year association with the Labour Party.